compound sentence

American  

noun

1. a sentence containing two or more coordinate independent clauses, usually joined by one or more conjunctions, but no dependent clause, as The lightning flashed (independent clause) and (conjunction) the rain fell (independent clause).

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compound sentence British  

noun

1. a sentence containing at least two coordinate clauses

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compound sentence Cultural  

1. A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses, often joined by conjunctions: “Dr. Watson explained his theory, and Sherlock Holmes listened quietly.” (Compare complex sentence, compound-complex sentence, and simple sentence.)

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Etymology

Origin of compound sentence

First recorded in 1765–75

Compare meaning

How does compound-sentence compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• compound sentence vs. complex sentence
• simple sentence vs. compound sentence

Example Sentences

When the members of a compound sentence are complex or contain commas.

From Punctuation A Primer of Information about the Marks of Punctuation and their Use Both Grammatically and Typographically by Hamilton, Frederick W. (Frederick William)

Commas are used to separate the members of a compound sentence when they are short or closely connected.

From Composition-Rhetoric by Brooks, Stratton D.

And a similar process takes place with the various elements of a compound sentence.

From Commentary Upon the Maya-Tzental Perez Codex with a Concluding Note Upon the Linguistic Problem of the Maya Glyphs by Gates, William

Use the comma to separate the members of a compound sentence when those members are short and closely connected in their thought.

From Practical Grammar and Composition by Wood, Thomas

The compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses.

From Public Speaking by Stratton, Clarence